Saul was met by the prophet himself at the gate of the city. God revealed to Samuel that at that time the chosen king of Israel would appear before him. As they now stood face to face, the Lord said to Samuel, “There he is, the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall reign over My people.”
Assuring Saul that the lost animals had been found, Samuel urged him to stay and attend the feast, at the same time giving some hint of the great destiny before him. “On whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you, and on all your father’s house?” The demand for a king had become a matter of absorbing interest to the whole nation, yet with simple modesty, Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak like this to me?”
Samuel took the stranger to the place of assembly. At the prophet’s direction, the place of honor was given to Saul, and at the feast the best portion was set before him. When the services were over, Samuel took his guest to his own home and talked with him there, explaining the great principles on which the government of Israel had been established, and in this way seeking to prepare him for his high position.
When Saul left the next morning, the prophet went with him. After they had passed through the town, he directed the servant to go forward. Then he told Saul to stand still to receive a message sent to him from God. “Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him and said, ‘Is it not because the Lord has anointed you commander over His inheritance?’” He assured Saul that he would be qualified by the Spirit of God for the role awaiting him. “The Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will ... be turned into another man. And let it be ... that you do as the occasion demands; for God is with you.”
As Saul went on his way, everything happened as the prophet had said. At Gibeah, his own city, a group of prophets returning from “the high place” were singing the praise of God to the music of the flute and the harp, a stringed instrument and a tambourine. As Saul approached them, the Spirit of the Lord came over him also, and he joined in their song of praise and prophesied with them. He spoke with great fluency and wisdom and earnestly joined in the service. Those who had known him exclaimed in astonishment, “What is this that is come upon the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”
The Holy Spirit worked a great change in him. The light of divine holiness shone in on the darkness of the natural heart. He saw himself as he was before God, and he saw the beauty of holiness. He was called to begin the warfare against sin and was made to feel that in this conflict his strength must come wholly from God. The plan of salvation, which before this had seemed dim and uncertain, opened to his understanding. The Lord blessed him with courage and wisdom for his high position.
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